Axle for vehicles.



No. 735,984. I PATENTED AUG. 11, 1903..

J. T. KENTER. V

AXLE'POR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3, 1902.

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ATTORNEY No. 785,984. Y .'*T-PAT-NT-ED3 AUG. 11', 1903,.

I J.T.KENTER.

AXLE FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3, 1902.

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ATTORNEY W TNESSES: INVENTORY Patented August 11, mos.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. KENTER, OF ALLWVOOD, NEW JERSEY.

' AXLE FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION form ng part of Letters Patent No. 735,984, dated August 11, 1903.

Application filed April 3, 1902. Serial No.101,16 9. (No mo'del.)

it appertains to make and use thesame, ref

erence being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

The present invention has reference generally to improvements in vehic les;,and the invention relates more particularly to a novel construction of axle and a novel means of securing to and connecting with the axle a perfectly d ust-proof hub of a wheel,which is preferably provided with a ball-bearing, the said hub and wheel being always retained in position upon an axle journal or spindle, which is detachably connected with the axle or arch of a vehicle.

The principal objects of my present invention are to provide a novel arrangement of combined axle-journal or spindle and a wheel preferably provided with a ball-bearing, the hub of .the wheel being permanently and operatively arranged upon said axle journal or spindle, but the said journal or spindle being 'detachably connected with the main axle or arch for the purpose of protecting the ballbearing of the hub when removing the wheel from the axle and to provide a perfectly dustproof hub.

It has been found in practice in ball-bearing hubs which are removably placed upon the axle-journals, forming integral and nondetachable parts of the axle-body or arch, that in removing the Wheel and its hub the ball-bearing becomes exposed to the dust, whereas in the present construction, the axle journal or spindlev at all times beingleft directly in the hub of the wheel, the ball-bear;

ings are left perfectly safe and free from dust and grit.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel arrangement and construction of wheel and its hub, in the ball-bearing portions of which the axle journal or spindle always remains when disconnected from the axle of this invention.

and projecting at either end from said main axle. Furthermore, the axle-journal in the present case remaining in the hub of the wheel and having its screw-threaded portion protected by means of a screw-cap, a readily detachable and removable wheel from the main axle is provided, whereby the said wheel can be readily and safely packed for shipment with its bearings free from dirt, dust, and grit.

A further object of this invention is to provide a strong and durable axle and'to provide a vehicle which shall present a more speedy and finished appearance, and finally to provide a simple arrangement of the various parts whereby any unskilled person who might carelessly-handle the wheel and its hub can readily remove the wheel without any danger of sliding the bearing portions of the hub upon the screw-threads for the nut of the axlejournal as heretofore, and, furthermore, the journal in this case remaining directly within the hub the wheel can bemore easily handled and quickly and perfectly cleaned.

Other objects of this invention not at this time more especially mentioned, such as a novel means for preventing accidental displacement of the'axle journal or spindle from the'axle or arch, will be evident from the following detailed description of my invention.

The invention therefore consists in the novel arrangement and combination of devices and their parts, all of which will be hereinafter more fully set forth and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claim.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the.

'means of the combined hub and the axle journal or spindle according to the principles Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of aball-bearing hub and the axle journal or spindle, with a sectional representation of one end portion of an axle or arch, the said view illustrating the manner of detachably connecting the said axle-journal and hub to said portion of the axle or or dog 9.

arch, and illustrating, furthermore, a locking means or catch which prevents the turning of said axle-journal with relation to the end portion of the axle or arch to which it is attached. Fig. 3 is an end view of the said parts represented in Fig. 2 of the drawings when looking in the direction of the arrow at. Fig. at is an elevation of the said bearinghub and the axle journal orspindle detached from the said axle or arch, illustrating in connection with said axle-journal in vertical section a screw-cap for protecting the screwthreads upon the end of the axle-journal when removed from the axle; and Fig. 5 is an end view of the said parts represented in said Fig. 4..

Similar characters of reference are employcd in all of the said above-described views to indicate corresponding parts.

In the said drawings the reference character 1 indicates an axle or arch of a vehicle, the same in the present case being made of tubular iron and having at its two end portions a pair of downwardly-extending members 2. In the lower tubular portion of each member 2, forming the receiving-sockets 3, (see Fig. 2 of the drawings,) I have arranged and suitably secured therein in any manner the shank & of a solid bar or member 5, the lower portion of each member 5 being preferably of the con figuration represented in Fig. 3 of the drawings and being provided with a screw-threaded hole or opening 6, substantially as illustrated. The said member 5 is also preferably made with a receiving-recess 7 and has a pin 8, upon which is pivotally arranged the eye portion of a holding catch The said catch or dog 9 is preferably made with a finger-piece 12, and directly back of the eye portion 10 of the catch or dog 9 may be placed a suitable spring 13, which serves to normally force the lower end portion ll of the said catch or dog 9 directly into the screw-threaded opening or hole 6 in the manner illustrated in said Figs. 2 and 3. The said axle journal or spindle previously mentioned is indicated by the reference character 15, and the same is made with a screw end 16, upon which is arranged a nut 17. Near the opposite end portion of the said axle journal or spindle the same is made with a nut-shaped enlargement 18 for the reception of a wrench, and 19 is a suitable flange which is brought against one of the Hat surfaces, as 20, of the member 5 when the said axle journal or spindle 15 is securely screwed by means of a screw-threaded end portion or member 21into the screw-threaded hole or opening 6 of said member 5. The said screwthreaded end portion 21 of the said axle j on rnal or spindle 15 may also be made with a longitudinally-extending groove or channel 22, into which the said lower end portion 14: of the holding catch or dog 9 can be made to project, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, to prevent rotary and accidental displacement of the said axle journal or spindle 15 when the latter has been secured in its operative position, as will be clearly understood. Contiguous to the said nut-shaped enlargement 18 upon said axle journal or spindle 15 is a screw-thread The ball bearing hub 24 of the wheel 25 is of any wellknown construction, audit is permanently secured in its rotary position upon the said axle journal or spindle 1.5 by means of the usual cone-shapedmembers 26 and 27, which are screwed upon the respective screwthreads 16 and 23 of the said axle journal or spindle 15 against the face of the nut-shaped enlargement 18 and then held in place by means of the nut 17. The ball-bearing hub 24: is made with the usual forms of ball-races 28, containing a number of antifriction balls or rollers 29, and with the hub-sleeve 30, the oil-valve 31, and an inner oil-retaining tube 32, all of which will be clearly understood from an inspection of Fig. 2.

The hub-sleeve 30 is made with the usual spoke-flanges 11, to which the rim of the wheel 25 is secured by means of the usual spokes. (Not shown in the present case.) The coneshaped member26 is also made with a screwthreaded portion. 33 for the arrangement thereon of a screw-cap 34:, which covers the said nut 17 and prevents the accidental displacement of, the nut.

Of course it will be clearly understood that I do not limit myself to the form and construction of ball-bearin g hub 24:,herein shown, for I am fully aware that the axle journal or spindle 15 may be used with any other forms and constructions of wheel-hubs.

lVhen the wheel and hub and the various component parts of the hub have been assembled in their rotative and operative positions upon the axle journal or spindle 15 in the manner illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, then the said axle journal or spindle 15 can be arranged in its position against the side of the member 5, connected with the axle or arch l, by screwing the screw portion or member 21 into the screw-threaded hole or opening 6, and by throwing the holding latch or dog 9 intoits locked or holding engagement with the groove or channel 22 any possible rotative movement of said axle journal or spindle 15 is fully overcome and there is no danger of any accidental displacement oi the said parts. \Vhen the combined wheel and hub and the axle journal or spindle 15 have been removed from the said member 5 for shipping purposes or for the purpose of readily cleaning the spokes of the wheel, a nntshaped screw-cap 35 can be screwed upon the screw-threaded end portionof the member-21 of the axle journal or spindle to prevent any damage of the screw-threads on said portion :31, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and From the previous description of my invention it will be seen that I have devised a simple and effective arrangement and construction of parts which enables any person to quickly detach the wheel from the axle of a vehicle without disturbing the parts of the ball-bearing and without any possibility, as in the ordinary construction now invogue, where the axle-journal forms an integral and inseparable part of the axle or arch, of bringing the screw-threads of the journal against the inner members of the hub while slipping the hub and Wheel from the axle, and thereby perhaps render the said parts useless. Furthermore, in the present construction the axle journal or spindle 15 at all times forming an inseparable part of the hub and its ball-bearings the hub always remains closed atits ends, and is therefore perfectly dust-proof and will be free from dirt and grit. The separable arrangement of the short axle journal or spindle furthermore has this advantage: When removed from the member 5 and when the cap 34 is screwed in place upon the end portion 21, all the parts are fully protected and can safely be packed for shipment in a much smaller space than is at present the case without any danger of disturbing the previously-adjusted bearing portions, and also keeping these parts free from dust, grit, and water.

I am fully aware that changes may be made in the various arrangements and combinations of the devices and their parts without departing from the scope of my present invention. Hence I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the said devices and their parts nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination, with an axle, provided with a member having a screw-threaded hole, of an axle-journal, a screw-threaded member on said axle-journal adapted to be screwed into said screw-threaded hole in said axle, and a hub and wheel rotatively arranged on said axle-journal, all in such a manner, that the said hub and said axle-journal are inseparably connected when said screw-threaded member of said axle-journal is unscrewed from the screw-hole in said axle, a groove or channel in the said screw-threaded member of said axlejournal, and a spring-actuated holding-catch pivotally connected with a part of said axle and having its free end portion adapted to be brought in holding engagement with the said groove or channel in saidscrew-threadedmember of the axle-journal, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, with a tubular body portion of an axle, having a pair of clownwardly-extending members provided with receiving-sockets, of amember 5 secured to each downwardly-extending member of the body portion of said axle, and an axle-journal detachably connected with each member 5, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination, with a tubular body portion of an axle, having a pair of downwardly-extending members provided with receiving-sockets, of a member 5 secured to each downwardly-extending member of the body portion of said axle, an axle-journal detachably connected with each member 5, and a hub and wheel rotatively arranged on each axle-journal, allin such a manner,that the said hub and axle-journal are inseparablyconnected when the axle-j ournal is disconnected from said member 5, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination, with a tubular body portion of an axle, having a pair of clownwardly-extending members provided with receiving-sockets, of a member 5 secured toeach downwardly-extending member of the body portion of said axle, an axle-journal detachably connected with each member 5, a hub and wheel rotatively arranged on each axle-j ournal, all in such a manner, that the said hub and axle-journal are inseparably connected when the axle-journal is disconnected from saidmember 5, and means on said member 5 adapted to be brought in separableholding engagement with a portion of said axle-journal to lock the same against rotation, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination, with a tubular body portion of an axle, having a pair ofdownwardly-extending members provided with receiving-sockets, of a member 5 secured to each downwardly-extending member of the body portion of said axle, each-member 5 being provided with a screw-threaded hole, and an axlejournal, a screw-threaded member on said axle-journal by means of which said axlejournal is screwed into said screw-threaded hole of the member 5, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. The combination, with a tubular body portion of an axle, having a pair of downwardly-extending members provided with receiving-sockets, of a member 5 secured to each downwardly-extending member of the body portion of said axle, each member-5 being pro vided with a screw-threaded hole, an axlejournal, a screw-threaded member on said axle-j ournal by means of which said axle-journal is screwed into said screw-threaded hole of the member 5, and a hub and wheel rotatively arranged on each axle-journal, all arranged in such a manner, that the said hub and axlejournal are inseparably connected when said screw-threaded member of said axle -journal is unscrewed from said screwhole in said member 5, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. The combination, with a tubular body portion of an axle, having a pair of downwardly-extending members provided with receivingsockets, of a member 5 secured to each downwardly-extending member of the body portion of said axle, each member 5 being provided with a screw-threaded hole, an axlejournal, a screw-threaded member on said axle-j ournal by means of which said axle-journal is screwed into said screw-threaded hole of the member 5, a hub and wheel rotatively arranged on each axle-journal, all in such a manner, that the said hub and axle-journal are inseparably connected when said screwthreaded member of said axle-journal is unscrewed-from said screw-hole in said member 5, and means on said member 5 adapted to be brought in separable holding engagement with a portion of said axle-journal to lock the same against rotatiom substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. The combination, with a tubular body portion of an axle, having a pair of downwardly-extending members provided With receiving-sockets, of a member 5 secured to each downwardly-extending member of the body portion of said axle, each member 5 being provided with a screw-threaded hole, an axlejournal, a screw-threaded member on said axle-j ournal by means of which said axlej ournal is screwed into said screw-threaded hole of the member 5, a hub and Wheel rotatively arranged on each axle-journal, all in such a manner, that the said hub and axle-journal are inseparably connected when said screwthreaded member of said axle-journal is unscrewed from said screw-hole in said member 5, and means 011 said member 5 adapted to be brought in separable holding engagement with a portion of said axle-journal to lock the same against rotation, consisting, essentially, of a groove or channel in the said screwthreaded member of said axle-journal, and a spring-actuated holding-catch pivotally connected with a part of said member 5 and having its free end portion adapted to be brought in holding engagement with the said groove or channel in the screw-threaded member of the axle-journal substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 31st day of March, 1902.

, JOHN T. KENTER.

\Vitnesses:

FREDK. O. FRAENTZEL, Gno. D. RICHARDS. 

